Evangelical pastors who lead churches in cities known for their strong support of homosexuality have stressed the need to preach the Gospel lovingly toward the LGBT community.

At an event held Wednesday evening organized by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, two pastors spoke about what it's like to serve at churches located in regions of the country known for advocating the LGBT agenda.

Matt Carter, pastor at Austin Stone Community Church, which hosted the ERLC event, told those gathered that watering down the Gospel is not the answer. more >>

A Baptist pastor in Tennessee whose young congregation is focused on evangelizing the state's growing Islamic community has stated that the great obstacle to evangelizing Muslims is the American Church's apathy on the matter.

Raouf Ghattas, founder and pastor of the Arabic Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, has sought to evangelize among the city's growing Muslim population.

"Many are apathetic, afraid, or just not sure how to approach a Muslim in witness. We work to train churches and individuals in how to reach out to Muslims, but they still have to be the ones to be active," said Ghattas to The Christian Post on Friday. more >>

California Pastor Tim Storey has been called a life coach to the stars with a ministry that has led him to speak into the lives of countless celebrities including rapper Kanye West and actor Charlie Sheen, who had a highly controversial breakdown in 2011.

Storey, 54, is the pioneer of a spiritual meeting known as the Hollywood Bible Study that began in 1992 with 12 people that has grown to over 2000, but dealing with entertainers was not his original vision for his life while he was a student at South Eastern University in Florida.

"My dream was to reach all people and so when I first started [in ministry], I went on a lot of missions trips to third world countries," said Storey to The Christian Post. "And I would do motivational speaking in places like South Africa, Nigeria and some of the tougher parts of the Philippines." more >>

David Platt, president of the International Mission Board, an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention, said Wednesday that the organization is working on new ways to stop the decline in Southern Baptist missionary efforts around the world as an estimated 2 billion people have still not heard the Gospel.

Speaking at the SBC's annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio, Platt praised the collective efforts of the organization and IMB, pointing out that there are 4,700 missionaries proclaiming the Gospel to nearly 2 million people around the world. He also noted that their efforts have led to nearly 200,000 people getting baptized and the planting of almost 13,000 new churches.

"I praise God for what he has created in the Southern Baptist Convention and in the IMB. It is breathtaking to see how you, as Southern Baptists, are making that happen through your praying, through your giving," Platt told the packed audience. "Over $94 million to the IMB through the Cooperative Program, over $153 million to Lottie Moon — the second largest offering in our 170-year history." more >>

Starting this Sunday a church located in the heart of New York City will be giving away free movie tickets to every first-time visitor as well as the person who invites them.

Flyers highlighting the chance to attend the movies for free by simply showing up for worship services at The Journey Church in Manhattan were distributed in a local paper Thursday morning as a part of a summer teaching series called "God on Films."

The movie ticket offering was also highlighted via the church's social media accounts. more >>

A conservative Presbyterian church that was founded in 2012 in response to the growing theological liberalism of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has reached its 200th member congregation.

The Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians gained congregation number 200 when First Presbyterian Church of Griffin, Georgia, joined the denomination earlier this month, following a unanimous vote.

"We have planned for it. We have dreamed about it. The hardest part has been waiting, but the wait is almost over," noted First Presbyterian in their May newsletter. "It will bring deep satisfaction to move into this next chapter together. It will also bring rest. And the truth is, we need both." more >>